This course examines the intersections among
race
poverty and class in the United States. We will
probe recent theories on
poverty and examine the war against the poor undertaken by various
cultural and
political forces. We will investigate intra-racial class conflicts in
black
communities as well as tackle the rise of prosperity gospel messages in
African-American churches. We will also examine the Bill Cosby
controversy and
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in situating racial and class
discourse
around poverty. Finally, we will examine religious responses to poverty
race and
class.